Motor vehicle



Patented Nov. 25, 1941 ','lhe Crosley Corporatio corporation of Ohio n, "Cincinnati, Ohio, a

Application July c, 1939, sentano, 283,042 zoiaims. (o1. v1to1-+571.;

This invention relates tofmotor vehicles designed. -toxbe as. inexpensive to build and operate asi possible. It1also relates lto motorvehicles of a type which atone time Vformed .the basis of a number of suggestionsto be found .inthe art, in which. the engine,. gear case, torqueshaft, and rear. axle vshaftswere bound togethery in a series ofrigidhousingsV the A.whole .supported at the front of: the .vehicle byauniversal joint between the engine and they frame.v f

1. It-followsginfa Vstructure of the aforesaid general type,` that the operation of the clutch and gear shift, controlledI from within the body of the vehicle must be subject to the movement of the gear vcase of the engine; as the rear-wheels of the :vehicle move, and so far as I am advised, the'structures of this type in the past have been such that the pedals or controls have been mountedl directly on the engine structure, and allowed to move about as the engine structure moves about.

It is an object of this invention to remove the clutch pedal from an oscillatory position. The gear shift lever is not pivotally mounted as is a clutch pedal and can be permitted to stand up directly on the gear case. According to my invention the clutch pedal is connected by a flexible shaft to the engine casing, so that the defect of having it oscillate and vibrate with the engine is done away with.

It is also an object of the invention to remove all oscillatory joints between the engine and the vehicle frame where it is supported, and accordingly, there is provided a rubber mount for the engine, constituting its sole juncture with the vehicle frame, which rubber mount is set ahead of the engine, so as to be the least subject to amplitude of movement of any portion of the rigidly connected system of the power plant.

In the drawing an illustrative embodiment which will serve to explain my invention, is shown, and will be described in detail. The novelty inherent therein, is set forth in the appended claims.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a plan View of an auto chassis with parts broken away an-d other parts removed to clarify the features of my invention.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken along the line 2 2 of Fig. 1, and also having part of the flywheel housing broken away w1th certain parts therein shown in section.

Fig. 3 is a section taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

' .Fig i` is` asection taken mangime 4 4 of Fig. -6V is a perspective of the resilient mounting employedfor supporting the motor.

Referring to Fig. 1, the side members I and 2 of the chassis are connected by cross members 3, `Il and 5. The .drive system, consisting of motor 6; transmission l; torque tube 8; differential casing Ila and rear axlefhousingsl 9 are assembled in rigid relation." It will be understood-that the 'drive-shaft,differential,'rear axles and wheels 5i! may bearranged as ydesired within their various housings, butwthat these housings and other members of the drive systemV above mentioned are bolt'wdgwelded', 'orf otherwise secured together in a'lunitary structure. `1At its front end the drive system is attached to the cross member 3 by means of the resilient mounting IIl illustrated in Figs. 5 and 6. Near the rear of the frame members I and 2, springs II and I2 are ailixed in any convenient manner as indicated at IIa and |2a. The springs here illustrated are of the cantilever type and are fixed at their other ends to the axle housing I3. It will be understood that other types of springs, shock absorbers and snubbers may of course be employed without affecting the spirit of my invention.

Referring to Figs. 5 and 6 the resilient mounting I 0 is composed of a lower channel member I4 and an upper channel member I5 with a separator or core I6 of rubber or other resilient material interposed therebetween. It is preferred to form the member I0 by molding or vulcanizing the core I6 in assembly with the members I4 and I5 so that an integral structure is formed as seen in Fig. 6.

At either end of the member I5 I provide an unchannelled portion having perforations I5a through which bolts I6a are shown. Likewise the channel I4 is provided with' bolts Il. As shown in Fig. 5 the bolts Ilia are provided with nuts I8 which engage a flange 6a at the front of the motor securing the member I5 rmly thereto. The bolts Il extend through perforations in the cross bar 3 and are secured thereto by nuts I9. It will be apparent that other types of resilient mountings could be readily devised and that I am not to be limited to the particular construction here shown.

Fixed to the cross member 4 a plate 20 has upturned side portions 2| and 2Ia in which a shaft 22 is mounted. Journaled on the shaft 22 is the brake pedal 23 and the clutch pedal 24. As seen in Fig. 2, I have pivotally attached to th'e clutch pedal as at 25, a clevis 25a which clevis is xed to the end of the exible cable 26. The other end of cable 26 is provided with a threaded member 26a, which member engages a clevis 26h. The clevis 26h is pivotally connected by a pin 21 to the clutch fork 28. By reason of the threaded engagement of member 26a and clevis 2Gb the eiective length of the cable 26 may be adjusted,

that adjustment being retained by lock nut 26a..

The flexible cable 26 operates through a sleeve or housing 29, which housing is of the conven.- tional type and is secured at one end by clamp 30 to an angularly inclinedmember 3| ofy the frame. At its other end the cable housing or sleeve 29 is secured by clamp 32, said clamp 32 itself being fixed by screw 33 tofa lug or boss 34.

on the under side of the transmission case 1.v

The clutch fork 28 is mounted on a rod or shaft 40 which, shaft is-xed in bosses 4i of the flywheel housing 42. The bifurcated endsoi the clutch fork are cut away and; formed asat43. to engage lugs or ears 44 on the clutch. collar, 45,. A strip 46 opposite th'eportionl 4:3 serves to retain the ears 44 in:operative relation with the clutch fork.

'I'he clutch as shownin the, drawing; is of the conventional type and it will be understood that I am not to be limited toi the particular type or construction here` illustrated.

In Fig. 2 I have illustrated diagrammatically a. spring 41 which may be employed for returning the clutch pedal 24 t0 the position shown. Also indicated diagrammatically'is, a stop member 48 for limiting movement;` of' the pedal 24.. Various forms of springs and stops may ofcourse be readily substituted for those shown and; it willbe understood thatv I am not to; be limited to the particular structure or embodiment of my invention as shown throughout the drawing but by what I claim to be new and patentable in the claims which follow.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. Ins a motor vehicle, in, combination with front and rear axles and a frame, a power unit comprising, an engine, a transmission housing, a drive shaftl housing and a rear axle housing all rigidly interconnected, springs supporting the rear end of the frame upon the rear axle housing and the frontend ofthe frame on the front axle, mounting means for mounting said unit in said frame at the front end thereof, said means comprising a pair of channel members of substantial length disposed transversely of the frame, one of said channel members being secured to said unit and one to said frame, and a resilient member secured between. said channel members.

2. In a motor vehicle, inv combination with fronty and rear axles anda frame,` a power-unit comprising; an. engine, ai transmission housing, aA driveV shaft` housing and a. rear axle housing all, rigidlyinterconnected, springs supporting the rear end of the frame. upon the rear axle housing andthe front end of the frameA on the front axle, mounting means for mounting said unit. in said frame at the front end*L thereof, said means comprising a pair ofy channel members of U- shaped-` cross section and of substantial length' disposed transversely of theframe, one of said channel members being secured to; said unit and one` to said. frame, and a resilient member disposed within one ofA said channel members the sides of the other channel member4 being embedded therein.

POWEL CROSLEY, Jn.` 

